Today’s News

VIDEO: Mountain Dews Pulls Allegedly Racist Commercial

With controversial musicians, PepsiCo doesn't have the best track records with celebrity endorsements.

Now add to that list Tyler, the Creator, 22, who was recently hired by PepsiCo's drink Mountain Dew to make a commercial for the company. The company has pulled a 60-second ad after representatives said it received complaints about battering women and racism, but did not reveal who lodged the complaints. A statement from the New York-based soda company Wednesday read, "We apologize for this video and take full responsibility. We have removed it from all Mountain Dew channels, and Tyler is removing it from his channels as well."

The commercial, a slapstick spot that features a goat as its protagonist, has a lineup of suspected criminals, including African-American males and the goat. A Caucasian female character on crutches — roughed up on a previous Mountain Dew commercial by the goat — is asked to identify the attacker. "Ya better not snitch on a playa," the goat said. "Keep ya mouth shut." The woman then runs away, saying she can't "do it."

Tyler, the Creator is well-known in rap circles for his edgy personality and has a large youth following: Mountain Dew's target drinker. Lil Wayne was recently tied to criticism of Mountain Dew, and Ludacris ran into trouble a few years ago with a Pepsi endorsement after facing public criticism from Bill O'Reilly.

Do you think the commercial should have been pulled? Watch and decide for yourself: